Improvement in fire-kindlers



D. M. MEFFURD.

Fire.-Kindlers. l 'N0.l48,734, Patented March 17, 1874.

' ismmmggma I fiumwr A an UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID M. MEFFORD, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN INVEN- TION COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-KINDLERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,734., dated March 17, 1874; application filed February 16, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID M. MEFFORD, of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Kindlers and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in a fire-kindler, composed of a corn-cobwith a lighter drawn through or wrapped around it," and the whole immersed in melted rosin, or other resinous inflammable substance, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled I in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which the figure is a side elevation.

A represents a piece of the ordinary American corn-cob, through the center of which, where the pith ought to be, is drawn a lighter, B, consisting of a piece of candle-wick. The whole is then immersed in melted rosin, or other resinous inflammable substance, after which it is taken out and dried, after which it is ready for use. The melted rosin in which the cob and wick are immersed saturates the whole mass and holds the-wick firmly in place, so that it cannot be removed.

This kindler can be made very cheap, and, from the well-known heating qualities of the corn-cob, it furnishes an excellent fire-kindler, easily light-ed by the application of a match to the end of the wick or lighter B.

I am aware that corn-cobs have been used as fire-kindlers, and I do not therefore broadly claim such; but

Having thus fully described my invention, what I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A corn-cob, A, having the wick B drawn through the center, taking the place of the pith, and the whole then immersed in melted rosin, forming a fire-kindler, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. v

DAVID M. MEFFORD.

Witnesses:

FRED. L. MEFFoRD, MINNIE M. IVIEFFORD. 

